1929 Van Ness Arch; Van Ness Avenue, Fresno California

Recently I decided to re-visit the Van Ness Arch after seeing a Google image of it blocked off by Union Pacific construction. The Van Ness Arch was located just off of US Route 99/Railroad Avenue at the rail crossing on Van Ness Avenue in southern Fresno.

This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below.

Gribblenation US Route 99 Page

The Van Ness Arch of Fresno

An archway at Railroad Avenue and Van Ness Avenue was first proposed by the City of Fresno along Legislative Route Number 4 (future US 99) first in 1915. The original Van Ness Arch was completed in 1917 but only lasted to 1925 when it was damaged by fire. The current Van Ness Arch dates back to 1929 and features an Arc Deco design. The 1929 Van Ness Arch states the following greeting: "Fresno, the best little city in the USA, Van Ness Avenue."

Despite the Van Ness Arch being completed only by 1929 the alignment of US 99 shifted to the west off of Railroad Avenue to a wider rail approach into downtown by 1930. At some point between 1930 the route of Railroad Avenue to the Van Ness Arch may have been signed as a US 99 business route. Previously I covered the surface route of US 99 in Fresno on the blog below:

Hunting Forgotten History; US Route 99 in Fresno

The fate of the Van Ness Arch is uncertain as access to it will be eventually bisected by the High Speed Rail project. Said project may also lead to the demolition of former US Route 99 on Railroad Avenue. Back in 2013 the FresnoBee published a story regarding the history of the Van Ness Arch.

Fresno's Van Ness Avenue welcome arch

Comments

Unknown said…

Don't run the bullet train thru the arch area.This is an historic arch that needs to be preserved.If at all possible,move it a bit north on Van Ness.Once gone,history will be forgotten.

10:04 PM

The rogue G28-2 California State Highway Spades

In this short blog we look at the somewhat rare but not unheard-of rogue G28-2 California State Highway Spades affixed to guide signs. Part 1; what is the G28-2 California State Highway Spade? The Caltrans Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices Sign Chart from 2014 ("Caltrans MUTCD") dictates the types of signs and highway shields permitted for traffic control use in California. California is known for it's more ornate cut-out shields which are used for, US Routes, Interstate Highways, and State Routes. These shields are intended to be applied as standalone reassurance signs but aren't explicitly limited to said function and occasionally appear in error on guide signs. The common shields which are typically found through California are: US Route: G26-2 Interstate: G27-2 State Highway: G28-2 The Caltrans MUTCD provides alternative shields for, US Routes, Interstate Highways, and State Routes. These alternative shields are intended for guide sign usage. Th

Former Greater Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal

For just over four decades, the former main terminal of Greater Pittsburgh International Airport was the city's gateway to the world. Located nearly 20 miles west of Downtown Pittsburgh, the Joseph Hoover-designed terminal would see millions of travelers pass through its doors. Known best for the terrazzo compass in the main lobby, the terminal had many other distinguishing features. The well-landscaped entrance led up to the curved stepped design of the terminal. Each level of the terminal would extend out further than the other allowing for numerous observation decks. The most popular observation deck, the "Horizon Room", was located on the fourth floor. The former Greater Pittsburgh Airport Terminal - October 1998 From when it opened in the Summer of 1952 until its closing on September 30, 1992, the terminal would grow from a small regional airport to the main hub for USAir. The terminal would see numerous expansions and renovations over its 40 years of

Highways in and around Old Sacramento; US 40, US 99W, CA 16, CA 24, CA 70, CA 99, CA 275, and more

This past weekend I was visiting the City of Sacramento for a wedding. That being the case I decided to head out on a morning run through Old Sacramento, Jibboom Street Bridge, I Street Bridge, Tower Bridge, and path of US Route 40/US Route 99W towards the California State Capitol. My goal was to retrace the paths of the various highways that once traversed the Old Sacramento area. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page The old highway alignments of Sacramento The City of Sacramento lies at the confluence of the Sacramento River and American River in Sacramento Valley. Sacramento Valley was discovered by Spanish Explorer Gabriel Moraga in 1808. Moraga referred to the fertile Sacramento Valley akin to a "Blessed Sacrament." By 1839 John Sutter Sr. settled in Mexican held

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